Heating device comprising a gas sensor and method for operation thereof

ABSTRACT

A heating device as well as a method for the operation thereof. The heating device has an outer housing that surrounds an installation space. The components of heating device are arranged inside or on the outer housing, particularly a burner unit, a fan, a fuel valve and as an option a circulation pump. At least one of these units comprises at least one electrical and/or electronic component. On one or more of the anyway present electrical and/or electronic components at least one gas sensor is arranged on the outer housing and/or inside the installation space, particularly on a support or a circuit board of the respective electrical and/or electronic component. The at least one gas sensor is configured to create a sensor signal that describes the presence and/or concentration of at least one gas component in the atmosphere. Based thereon leakages, faults, undesired backflow, etc. can be determined. Thereupon a respective measure can be initiated, e.g. the output of a warning message and/or suction of the atmosphere by means of fan.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to the followingGerman Patent Application No. 10 2021 105 962.3, filed on Mar. 11, 2021,the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by referencethereto.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention refers to a heating device, e.g. for heating of a heattransfer medium, particularly water. The heating device can beconfigured to heat a building or a part of a building and/or to providewarm water by means of the heat transfer medium. The warm water can beprovided for a kitchen, a bathroom, etc. in a building or part of abuilding.

BACKGROUND

A heating device that comprises a burner unit and a fan is known from DE10 2006 004 506 A1. The fan is arranged downstream behind the burnerunit. In an exhaust channel a mass flow sensor can be inserted, e.g. todetect the hydrogen mass flow or the carbon dioxide mass flow. On thebasis of the sensor signal the control for the composition of the airgas mixture can be influenced that is supplied to the burner unit forcombustion.

A similar heating device is also described in DE 10 2011 010 074 A1. Thecontrol of the heating device is realized depending on a sensor that isarranged in an exhaust channel.

EP 3 396 248 B1 describes a method for recognition of errors on a gassafety valve in heating devices. For this purpose the mass or volumeflow of the supplied combustion air is detected by a sensor and thegradient of the measurement signal is formed. The gradient of themeasurement signal is subsequently compared with stored gradientprogresses that characterize errors in the heating device. Based on thecomparison errors shall be recognized and signaled.

EP 3 388 756 A1 discloses a heating device having a gas sensor and anearthquake sensor in order to be able to determine a gas leakage in caseof an earthquake.

In a heating device a mixture of fuel and an oxidizing agent, e.g. air,is supplied to a burner unit and combusted. A fossil or non-fossil andpreferably gaseous fuel can be used as fuel. For example, natural gas,liquid gas, syngas, biogas, hydrogen or an arbitrary combination thereofcan be used as fuel. The fuel supply into a mixing area in which thefuel and the oxidizing agent are mixed is blocked or released by meansof a fuel valve. The volume or mass flow of the fuel can be adjusted bymeans of the fuel valve (open loop or closed loop control).

Due to defects or wear, leakages can occur at the fuel valve or atanother location of the fuel supply such that fuel leaks. For thisreason the fuel valve is usually exchanged after a certain operatingduration and/or after a predefined number of switching processespreventively. Therefrom high expenditures and high costs result fromsuch a preventive exchange involved with a maintenance service.Frequently fuel valves are exchanged that could have been used furtheron without concerns. In case leakage occurs upstream or downstream fromthe fuel valve (e.g. defective sealings), this leakage would not beremedied by means of a preventive exchange of the fuel valve.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Therefore, it can be considered as object of the present invention toprovide and operate a heating device that is improved with regard tocosts and expenditures of the service.

This object is solved by means of a heating device including: an outerhousing that surrounds an installation space; a burner unit including aburner and a burner housing and being arranged on the outer housingand/or inside the installation space; a fuel valve being arranged on theouter housing and/or inside the installation space and being arranged ina fuel line and being configured to influence supply of fuel via thefuel line into a mixing area; a fan being arranged on the outer housingand/or inside the installation space that is configured to create a flowof an oxidizing agent and/or a mixture of fuel and oxidizing agent intothe mixing area; at least one control device; and at least one gassensor being arranged on an electrical and/or electronic component ofthe heating device on the outer housing and/or inside installation spaceand being configured to create a sensor signal that describes anatmosphere surrounding the outer housing and/or present inside theinstallation space and being configured to provide the sensor signal tothe at least one control device that is configured to initiate ameasure, if it is determined based on the sensor signal that theatmosphere deviates from an allowable condition. Also disclosed is amethod for operating a heating device, wherein the heating deviceincludes an outer housing surrounding an installation space, a burnerunit having a burner and a burner housing, a fan, a fuel valve, at leastone control device and at least one gas sensor that is arranged on anelectrical and/or electronic component of the heating device on theouter housing and/or inside the installation space, wherein the methodincludes: creation of a sensor signal by means of the at least one gassensor that characterizes an atmosphere surrounding the outer housingand/or an atmosphere present inside the installation space; providingthe sensor signal to the at least one control device; and evaluating thesensor signal by means of the at least one control device and initiatinga measure, if it is determined based on the sensor signal that theatmosphere deviates from an allowed condition.

The heating device according to the invention comprises an outer housingthat surrounds an installation space. Installation space can allow a gasexchange with the environment of the installation location, i.e. theouter housing must not necessarily be gas-tight. A burner unit, a fanand a fuel valve are arranged at and/or in the installation space. Theburner unit has a burner and a burner housing to which fuel and anoxidizing agent are supplied in a premixed condition or separately formixture in the combustion chamber for combustion. The oxidizing agentand the fuel are mixed in a mixing area that can be arranged upstream ofthe burner housing or in the burner housing. For example, air from theenvironment (installation location within the building or from outsidethe building) and/or from the installation space can be sucked andsupplied as oxidizing agent. For this purpose the fan is used that cansupply the oxidizing agent and/or a mixture of fuel and oxidizing agent.The fuel valve is arranged in a fuel line in order to influence the fuelsupply to the mixing area.

The heating device further comprises at least one control device. The atleast one control device can be arranged inside the installation spaceon the outer housing or remote from the outer housing outside of theinstallation space. For example, the at least one control device cancomprise a component control device for the fan and/or for the fuelvalve and/or for another component or unit of the heating device and/orcan be part of a user interface.

The heating device further comprises a gas sensor. The gas sensor isconfigured to detect the atmosphere surrounding the outer housing and/orthe atmosphere existing in the installation space and can create asensor signal characterizing the atmosphere. The sensor signal can, forexample, indicate whether the atmosphere comprises one or multiple gascomponents to be detected, such as carbon dioxide and/or carbon monoxideand/or unburned gaseous fuel (natural gas and/or gas created from liquidgas and/or hydroxide), etc. For example, the gas sensor can also beconfigured to create a sensor signal that allows a determination of theportion and/or the concentration of the at least one gas component to bedetected in the atmosphere. In doing so, particularly a normal airatmosphere can be distinguished from an atmosphere that comprises inaddition a gas component in a non-allowed concentration.

As an option, the at least one gas sensor can create a sensor signalthat describes at least one further physical parameter of theatmosphere, such as a barometric pressure and/or a relative humidityand/or a temperature of the atmosphere. Based on this additionalphysical parameter of the atmosphere, an improved determination of theproportion and/or the concentration of the at least one gas component tobe detected of the atmosphere can be achieved.

The at least one gas sensor can be an MOX semi-conductor gas sensor(metal oxide semi-conductor gas sensor) and/or a thermal conductivitysensor by means of which the thermal conductivity of the atmosphere canbe determined. Also multiple gas sensors operating with differentphysical principles can be used. In general, all known gas sensor typescan be used as gas sensors. Depending on the application it can beadvantageous, if more than one gas sensor is arranged on the outerhousing and/or in the installation space.

The sensor signal of the at least one gas sensor is supplied to thecontrol device. The control device is configured to evaluate the sensorsignal in order to determine whether the characteristic of theatmosphere detected by means of a sensor corresponds to an allowedcondition or deviates therefrom. The evaluation can be executed in atime-controlled manner, e.g. cyclically, and/or event-triggered. Forexample, the evaluation can also be executed in the summer withoutintensified burner operation with longer operation pauses.

If an unallowed condition of the atmosphere is determined, the controldevice initiates a measure. For example, an acoustic and/or optic and/orhaptic warning signal or warning message can be created. The warningsignal can be transmitted via a communication connection to a remoteunit, particularly a mobile unit, such as a smart phone, for example.The communication connection can thereby be established via a localnetwork and/or the internet. Acoustical and/or optical warning signalsor warning messages can also be created by the heating device itselfand/or a further apparatus of a system networked with the heatingdevice. For example, the speaker and/or warning lights of smokedetectors or of other warning systems in the building or in the part ofthe building can be used to output the warning signal or the warningmessage.

In addition or as an alternative for outputting a warning message, themeasure can also be using the provided fan to feed the gas mixtureforming the atmosphere by means of the fan into an exhaust channel ofthe heating device, (e.g. chimney). For this the fan can be preferablyoperated with the maximum possible feed power. In doing so, the dangercan be avoided, for example, that an ignitable gas mixture is created ormaintained in the atmosphere. In case of a recognized unallowedcondition of the atmosphere, the control device can be furtherconfigured to interrupt the fuel supply to the burner by closing thefuel valve and/or to switch off the burner or to maintain the fuel valvein the closed condition or the burner in the switched-off condition. Bymeans of one or more of these measures, the safety can be furtherincreased.

The at least one gas sensor allows the recognition of at least oneundesired or unallowed high proportion of a gas component in theatmosphere that can be detected by means of the gas sensor or one of theprovided gas sensors. For example, thereby unintentionally exitinggaseous fuel can be determined at, upstream or downstream the fuelvalve. It is therefore no longer necessary to preventively exchange thefuel valve prematurely.

By means of the at least one gas sensor, in addition further defects orfaulty conditions can be determined, e.g. if exhaust flows back throughan exhaust channel of the heating device. This can be the case inspecific error conditions or depending on weather conditions or ifmultiple heating devices are connected to a common exhaust channel orchimney and one of the heating devices is switched off, while otherheating devices are operated. Also in case of incorrectly installedcoaxial exhaust systems, exhaust can enter into the air supply (freshair channel). Also the possibility exists to determine outgassing due todefects of present components or units of the heating device, e.g.smoldering of electrical and/or electronic components.

In addition or as an alternative, also the quality of the oxidizingagent (e.g. air) supplied to the burner unit can be detected by means ofthe at least one gas sensor and can be evaluated by means of the controldevice.

In an embodiment a fan housing of the fan comprises at least one housingpart consisting of plastic. The fan housing can exclusively consist of aplastic housing part or can be assembled of multiple plastic housingparts. To date metallic materials have been used for the fan housing ofthe fan in order to avoid leakages and a gas exit resulting therefrom.The detection of gas leakages according to the invention by means of theat least one gas sensor allows the use of a plastic fan housing andthereby lowers the costs for the fan. Because gas exiting due to a faultor damage of the plastic can be recognized. There upon a suitablemeasure can be initiated, such as closing of the gas valve and/oroutputting a warning message.

The at least one gas sensor is preferably configured to determine one ormultiple of the following gas components in the atmosphere: oxygen,carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ethane, methane, propane, propene,butane, butene, isobutane, isobutene, other hydrocarbon compounds,hydrogen and gas mixtures that contain one or more of the indicated gascomponents.

The fuel can be supplied to the burner in liquid or gaseous form.

Preferably at least one of the provided gas sensors or all of theprovided gas sensors are arranged inside of the installation space.

At least one of the provided gas sensors or all of the provided gassensors are arranged on an electrical and/or electronic component of theheating device that is present anyway, e.g. on a support (particularlycircuit board) or on a housing of the electrical and/or electroniccomponent of the heating device. The gas sensor can thereby be connectedwith the electrical and/or electronic component in a wireless manner.“Wireless” means here not a wireless connection, but a galvanicconnection without the use of an additional separate cable. Theconnection is realized preferably by means of conducting tracks on asupport (e.g. printed circuit board) of the electrical and/or electroniccomponent. For example, the at least one gas sensor can be directlymounted on the support or circuit board of the electrical and/orelectronic component in one embodiment and can be electrically connectedwith at least one conducting track, e.g. by means of a solderconnection. The at least one gas sensor can be configured as so-calledSMD-component (“Surface Mounted Device”), for example.

It is further advantageous, if the electrical and/or electroniccomponent is part of a superordinate control device or the fan or thefuel valve or an optionally present circulation pump. For example, theelectrical and/or electronic component can be part of a componentcontrol device, particularly a fan control device or a valve controldevice or a pump control device, or a superordinate control device. Inturn the superordinate control device can be communicatively connectedwith the fan control device and/or the valve control device and/or thepump control device.

The arrangement of the at least one gas sensor on an already presentelectrical and/or electronic component simplifies the installation andreduces costs. Particularly wiring of the sensor within the installationspace is not necessary. At least one gas sensor can be arranged on oneor multiple separate electrical and/or electronic componentsrespectively.

It can be advantageous to arrange multiple gas sensors at spatiallydifferent positions on the outer housing or in the installation spacesuch that the atmosphere can be detected at different spatial locations.In doing so, different gas components of the atmosphere having differentdensities can be detected better or quicker, for example. Gas componentshaving a lower density than air can accumulate at the top of theinstallation space and gas components having a higher density than aircan accumulate at the bottom of the installation space. Due to thearrangement of multiple gas sensors vertically with distance to oneanother inside the installation space, gas components with lower andhigher density than air can be detected in this manner more quickly.

It can be advantageous to arrange the gas sensor or one of the multiplegas sensors in a flow created by the fan. Particularly this flow can bean air flow of environmental air.

In a preferred embodiment of the heating device the fan comprises a mainrotor for creation of the flow of the oxidizing agent or of a mixture offuel and oxidizing agent and a cooling rotor for creation of a coolingflow for an electrical and/or electronic component of the fan. The flowof the oxidizing agent as well as the cooling flow can be preferably anair flow of environmental air. By means of the fan the atmosphere insidethe installation space or in the environment of the outer housing can beswirled such that potential gas components, the density of which isdifferent from the density of air, can be better determined.

It is advantageous, if the control device is configured to switch on thefan prior to and/or during the measurement of the atmosphere by means ofthe gas sensor or—if it has already been switched on—to keep it switchon. For example, the fan can be switched on, if the heating device isdeactivated, for example on a warm summer day. The atmosphere in thearea of the gas sensor is swirled by means of the fan and thedetermination of undesired gas components is improved. Also in case ofswitched off heating device, gas may exit, e.g. due to a fault, such asa leakage of the fuel valve, which can be detected by means of the atleast one gas sensor and can be signaled.

As already explained in a recognized unallowed condition of theatmosphere, a warning message can be created and/or the fan can beoperated for sucking the atmosphere in an exhaust channel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are derived from the dependentclaims, the description and the drawings. In the following, preferredembodiments of the invention are explained in detail based on theattached drawings. The drawings show:

FIGS. 1 and 2 schematic block-diagram-like illustration of an embodimentof a heating device respectively,

FIG. 3 a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method according to theinvention and

FIG. 4 a schematic block-diagram-like illustration of an embodiment of afan that can be used in a heating device, particularly the heatingdevice according to FIGS. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In FIG. 1 a block diagram of an embodiment of a heating device 10 isillustrated. The heating device 10 comprises an outer housing 11surrounding an installation space 12. The outer housing 11 separates theinstallation space 12 from an outer environment 13 at the installationlocation of the outer housing 11 according to the example at least notin a complete gas-tight manner. A gas exchange between the outerenvironment 13 and the installation space 12 is thus possible.

A burner unit 14 is arranged in the installation space 12. The burnerunit 14 has burner housing 15 in which a combustion chamber 16 islocated. A mixture of a fuel B and an oxidizing agent, according to theexample air L, is combusted in the combustion chamber 16 by means of aburner 17, whereby a hot exhaust stream is created. The hot exhauststream flows along at least one and according to the example two heatexchanger units 18, 19 connected in series according to the example. Thefirst heat exchanger unit 18 is arranged in a first zone 20 downstreamof combustion chamber 16 and the second heat exchanger unit 19 isarranged in a second zone 21 downstream of the first heat exchanger unitinside the burner housing 15. The flow direction is thereby referred tothe exhaust stream created in the combustion chamber 16. The exhauststream transfers heat to a heat transfer medium W by means of the heatexchanger units 18, 19. Downstream of second zone 21 an exhaust channelopens out in the burner housing 15, such that exhausts A of the exhauststream from the second zone 21 are discharged out of the burner housing15 via exhaust channel 22. In the lower region of second zone 21 adischarge line 23 for condensate K is connected to the burner housing 15in order to discharge condensate K out of the burner housing 15.

The heating device 10 according to FIG. 1 has a burner unit 14 thatoperates according to the calorific value principle. Also other burnerunits 14 could be used.

The burner 17 is fluidically connected to a fuel line 28. In the fuelline 28 inside the installation space 12 a fuel valve 29 is present. Thefuel valve 29 comprises an electrically controllable valve controldevice 30 by means of which a through-opening of the fuel valve 29 canbe opened or closed and preferably the desired flow cross-section can beadjusted. The supply of fuel B can be allowed or blocked and preferablythe amount of fuel B (volume or mass flow) can be influenced that flowsthrough the fuel line 28 toward a mixing area 27. In this embodiment themixing area 27 is arranged upstream of the combustion chamber 16. Thecontrol of the fuel valve 29 can be carried out electrically and/orpneumatically, for example.

The oxidizing agent is supplied to the mixing area 27 via a supplyopening or a supply channel 31. According to the example, the oxidizingagent is air L that is sucked out of the installation space 12 and/orthe environment 13 by means of a fan 32. The air can be sucked from theambient air inside the building or independent from the building ambientair by means of an external supply line from outside of the building. Asan alternative also oxygen or an oxygen air mixture can be used asoxidizing agent.

The fan 32 comprises a fan control device 33. The fan control device 33is configured to control a motor operating condition of a fan motor 34in the embodiment. By means of the fan control device 33 at least oneparameter of the flow of air L or the fuel air mixture can beinfluenced, e.g. the pressure downstream of the fan 32 and/or the volumeflow rate and/or the mass flow rate of the flow.

The fan 32 has a fan housing 32 a that surrounds the flow path for air Lor fuel air mixture. In the embodiment described here the fan housing 32a can consist of one or multiple housing parts made of plastic. Theentire fan housing 32 a can thus consist of plastic at least for themost part or completely. Potentially used connection means, such asscrews, can also consist from a different material.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 the air flows past an outletopening of the fuel line 28 and thereby sucks fuel B that is mixed withair L (or alternatively another oxidizing agent) in the mixing area 27.The fuel air mixture is fed further to the burner 17 by means of the fan32 and is burned in the combustion chamber 16.

The embodiment of the heating device 10 illustrated in FIG. 2 operateswithout premixing. Fuel B and air L (or alternatively another oxidizingagent) are supplied into the combustion chamber 16 separately and aremixed in the mixing area 27 that is arranged in the combustion chamber16 here. The manner of supply of fuel and/or the oxidizing agent as wellas the mixture thereof can vary depending on the embodiment of theheating device 10 and can be arbitrarily selected in principle.

The heating device comprises a feed line 38 connected to the at leastone heat exchanger unit 18, 19 as well as a return line 39. In theembodiment the feed line 38 is connected to the first heat exchangerunit 18 downstream of the flow direction of the heat transfer medium W.The return line 39 is connected to the second heat exchanger unit 19upstream of the flow direction of the heat transfer medium W. In theembodiment a circulation pump 40 can be optionally arranged in the feedline 38 or the return line 39. The circulation pump 40 has a pump motor41 and/or at least one other controllable pump component that iscontrolled by means of a pump control device 42. The circulation pump 40can also be omitted in an alternative embodiment.

For forming a heating circuit 43 in which the heat transfer medium W cancirculate, a heat emission arrangement 44 is connected to the feed line38 and the return line 39. The heat emission arrangement 44 can compriseradiators and/or heating coils of a panel heating, for example a floorheating, and the like. The heat transfer medium W flows through theheating circuit 43 from the first heat exchanger unit 18 via the feedline 38 to the heat emission arrangement 44. There heat is emitted andthe heat transfer medium W cools down. The cooled heat transfer medium Wflows via return line 39 back to the second heat exchanger unit 19 andfrom there via a fluidic connection to the first heat exchanger unit 18.The heating device 10 can also be configured for heating water, e.g.drinking water, in addition or as an option.

As an alternative to the illustrated embodiments it is also possible toarrange one or more components of the heating device 10 at least partlyoutside the installation space 12. For example, fan 32 and/or fuel valve29 and/or circulation pump 40 can be arranged on the outer housing 11.

The heating device 10 further comprises a user interface 45. A user canobtain information and/or input or select data by means of userinterface 45. For example, the user interface 45 can comprise a displayand at least one input field. The display and the input field can beconfigured as a unit in form of a touch screen. The user interface 45can also comprise acoustical output means and keys or buttons as inputmeans. Preferably the user interface 45 is arranged accessibly on theouter housing 11 on an operating side, wherein parts of the userinterface 45 are arranged inside the installation space 12.

In the illustrated embodiment the heating device 10 further comprises asuperordinate control device 46. The superordinate control device 46 iscommunicatively connected, for example via a data bus, with the fancontrol device 33 and/or the valve control device 30 and/or the pumpcontrol device 42 and/or the user interface 45. In the illustratedembodiment the superordinate control device 46 creates a first outputsignal O1 for the fan control device 33 and/or a second output signal O2for the valve control device 30 and/or a third output signal O3 for thepump control device 42 and/or a fourth output signal O4 for the userinterface 45. In addition, the superordinate control device 46 canreceive input signals, e.g. input signals I from the user interface 45.

The superordinate control device 46 can also be configured with one ofthe other control devices 30, 33, 42 or the user interface 45 in anintegrated manner.

At least one gas sensor 47 is arranged on the outer housing 11 and/or inthe installation space 12. In the embodiments schematically shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 multiple gas sensors and for example six gas sensors 47are illustrated inside the installation space 12. The number of gassensors 47 and the installation location thereof on or inside the outerhousing 11 may vary. Preferably the gas sensor 47 is connected to thecommunication connection between the superordinate control device 46 andthe at least one further control device 30, 33, 42 or the user interface45 in a wireless manner (without separate cable). This is realized inthat a gas sensor 47 or one of multiple provided gas sensors 47 isarranged at or on an electrical and/or electronic component 48 in theinstallation space 12. For example, gas sensor 47 can be directlyarranged on a support, e.g. a circuit board, of an electrical and/orelectronic component 48. The electrical and/or electronic component isanyway part of the heating device 10 and can be, for example, part ofthe fan 32, the fuel valve 29, the circulation pump 40, one or multipleof their control devices 30, 33, 42 or an arbitrary combination thereof.In addition or as an alternative the at least one gas sensor 47 can bearranged on or in the user interface 45 or directly on the superordinatecontrol device 46. It is for example possible to realize the at leastone gas sensor 47 as SMD component.

Each provided gas sensor 47 is configured to create a sensor signalS1-S5 that is provided to the superordinate control device 46, e.g. viathe provided communication connection. The sensor signal S1-S5 of the atleast one gas sensor 47 can be submitted to one single or multiple orall of the present control devices. For example, other evaluations ofthe respective sensor signal S1-S5 can be executed in different controldevices 46, 30, 33, 42. In addition or as an alternative, the sensorsignals of different gas sensors 47 can be submitted to differentcontrol devices 46, 30, 33, 42.

The sensor signal S1-S5 describes at least one characteristic of theatmosphere inside the installation space 12 and/or in the environment 13of the outer housing 11. Each gas sensor 47 is configured to detect oneor multiple gas types in the atmosphere. In the simplest case gas sensor47 can indicate the presence of a respective gas type in the atmosphere.It is also possible that gas sensor 47 creates a sensor signal S1-S5 inaddition or as an alternative that is characteristic for the ratio ofmultiple gas components of the atmosphere relative to one another and/ora proportion of a gas type in relation to the total composition of theatmosphere, etc. As an option the at least one gas sensor 47 can createa sensor signal S1-S5 that describes at least one physical parameter ofthe atmosphere, such as a biometric pressure and/or a relative humidityand/or a temperature of the atmosphere.

The at least one gas sensor 47 can be arranged at different installationlocations inside installation space 12. The installation location can beselected depending on the gas component of the atmosphere that shall bedetected by the gas sensor 47, for example. If a gas component shall bedetermined, the density of which is lower than the density of air, therespective gas sensor 47 is preferably arranged in the top area of theinstallation space 12. If a gas component shall be detected, the densityof which is higher than the density of air, the gas sensor 47 ispreferably arranged in the bottom area of the installation space 12.Multiple gas sensors 47 for detection of different gas components can bearranged at different installation locations.

As schematically illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, gas sensor 47 can also bearranged independent from an electrical and/or electronic component 48in or on the outer housing 11.

It is again indicated that the number of gas sensors 47 and theirrespective spatial installation location with reference to the outerhousing 11 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is exemplary only. Preferablythe at least one gas sensor 47 is arranged in combination with anelectrical and/or electronic component 48 in the installation space 12,e.g. on a provided control device, such as the fan control device 33,the valve control device 30 or the pump control device 42.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, fan 32 can comprise a main rotor 52 and as anoption in addition a cooling rotor 53. The two rotors 52, 53 are drivenby means of the common fan motor 34. In case of a rotation, the mainrotor 52 creates the flow of the oxidizing agent, according to theexample air L, while the cooling rotor 53 creates a cooling flow Cserving to cool the fan control device 33 and/or to circulate air at agas sensor 47 arranged there.

As apparent from FIG. 3 and also from FIGS. 1 and 2, gas sensor 47 canbe arranged inside a flow of oxidizing agent (air L) and/or insidecooling flow C. During operation of the fan 32 the atmosphere in theinstallation space 12 is swirled, such that their gas components arebetter mixed, particularly if they have densities remarkably differentfrom one another. By arranging the at least one gas sensor 47 in a flowcreated by fan 32, their gas components that shall be detected by therespective gas sensor 47 can be detected quicker and better. It cantherefore be advantageous to arrange at least one gas sensor 47 in thecooling flow C or in the flow of air L into the burner housing 15 orcombustion chamber 16. In addition, one or more additional gas sensors47 can be provided.

According to the example, the superordinate control device 46 isconfigured for checking whether the condition of the atmosphere that hasbeen detected by means of the at least one gas sensor 47 is allowable ornon-allowable. If in an embodiment no superordinate control device 46 isprovided, this function can also be taken over by another presentcontrol device, for example the fan control device 33, the valve controldevice 30 or the pump control device 42. An allowable condition of theatmosphere is determined, if the atmosphere does not contain undesiredgas components that are present in a concentration above a limit valueassigned to the gas component. For example, an allowable atmosphere isdetermined, if it comprises components in concentrations that are in therange of the usual air atmosphere inside a building or part of abuilding. If the atmosphere comprises undesired concentrations of one ormore gas components (e.g. CO₂, CO, unburned gaseous fuel, etc.), thiscan be recognized.

By way of example, FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram for a methodprogress that can be carried out by the superordinate control device 46or as an option by one of the other control devices.

After start of the method in a first method step V1 an actualmeasurement value is read in a second method step V2 that characterizesthe atmosphere. For this a respective sensor signal S1-S5 from one ormore gas sensors 47 is read. Based on the sensor signal S1-S5 it is thendetermined whether the condition of the atmosphere is allowable or not(third method step V3). For this purpose a threshold comparison or acomparison with an allowable value range can be carried out, forexample. During this comparison—provided that multiple gas sensors 47are present—different thresholds or allowable value ranges can beassigned to the different sensor signals S1-S5 respectively. Instead ofat least one threshold, also characteristic curves, characteristic maps,look-up tables or similar can be used that consider parameters inaddition to the measurement value or the sensor signal S1-S5, e.g. theactual operating condition of the heating device 10.

If it is determined in the third method step V3 that the atmosphere isnormal and thus in an allowable range (branch OK from the third methodstep V3), the method is again continued in the second method step V2.

If however an unallowed condition of the atmosphere is determined, forexample because the atmosphere comprises an unallowed concentration of agas component (branch NOK from the third method step V3), the method iscontinued in a fourth method step V4 and a measure is initiated asreaction to the determined unallowed condition of the atmosphere.

The initiation of a measure can comprise the creation or submission of awarning message. For example, such a warning message can be output to anexternal unit, particularly a mobile unit, such as a smartphone. Thetransmission can be carried out via a local network and/or the internetand/or a telephone connection. The warning message can be of arbitrarytype, for example acoustically and/or optically and/or haptically.

Such a warning message can also be output locally inside a building orpart of a building, for example by means of the user interface 45 ofheating device 10. If heating device 10 is part of a network system,also other system participants can output the warning messageacoustically and/or optically, e.g. smoke detectors, warning lights,warning speakers, etc. that are present in the system.

As an alternative or preferably additional measure, heating device 10can be transitioned into a predefined operating condition. In thisoperating condition fan 32 can be operated, however, the burner unit canbe shut down. For this fuel valve 29 can be closed such that no fuel Bis fed to burner 17. In addition, ignition of a combustion at burner 17can be inhibited. In this operating condition the gas atmosphere in theinstallation space 12 is sucked and fed outward via exhaust channel 22.In doing so, the danger is reduced that an ignitable gas atmosphereforms inside the installation space 12 or the environment 13.

Checking of the atmosphere can be carried out in a time-controlledand/or event-triggered manner. This check can also be carried out, ifthe heating device 10 is shut down, e.g. on warm summer days on which noradiation heat is needed. It is thereby possible to switch on the fan 32for a predefined period prior to and/or during measurement of theatmosphere by means of the at least one gas sensor 47 in order toachieve swirl and mixing of the atmosphere, such that an improveddetection can be guaranteed. This is particularly advantageous, if theat least one gas sensor is arranged in the flow of air L and/or thecooling flow C (FIG. 4).

The invention refers to a heating device 10 as well as a method for theoperation thereof. The heating device 10 has an outer housing 11 thatsurrounds an installation space 12. The components of heating device 10are arranged inside or on the outer housing 11, particularly a burnerunit 14, a fan 32, a fuel valve 29 and as an option a circulation pump40. At least one of these units comprises at least one electrical and/orelectronic component 48. On one or more of the anyway present electricaland/or electronic components 48 at least one gas sensor 47 is arrangedon the outer housing 11 and/or inside the installation space 12,particularly on a support or a circuit board of the respectiveelectrical and/or electronic component 48. The at least one gas sensor47 is configured to create a sensor signal S1-S5 that describes thepresence and/or concentration of at least one gas component in theatmosphere. Based thereon leakages, faults, undesired backflow, etc. canbe determined. Thereupon a respective measure can be initiated, e.g. theoutput of a warning message and/or suction of the atmosphere by means offan 32.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

-   10 heating device-   11 outer housing-   12 installation space-   13 outer environment-   14 burner unit-   15 burner housing-   16 combustion chamber-   17 burner-   18 first heat exchanger unit-   19 second heat exchanger unit-   20 first zone-   21 second zone-   22 exhaust channel-   23 discharge line-   27 mixing area-   28 fuel line-   29 fuel valve-   30 valve control device-   31 supply channel-   32 fan-   32 a fan housing-   33 fan control device-   34 fan motor-   38 feed line-   39 return line-   40 circulation pump-   41 pump motor-   42 pump control device-   43 heating circuit-   44 heat emission arrangement-   45 user interface-   46 superordinate control device-   47 gas sensor-   48 electrical and/or electronic component-   52 main rotor-   53 cooling rotor-   A exhaust-   B fuel-   C cooling flow-   I input signal-   K condensate-   L air-   O1 first output signal-   O2 second output signal-   O3 third output signal-   O4 fourth output signal-   S1 first sensor signal-   S2 second sensor signal-   S3 third sensor signal-   S4 fourth sensor signal-   S5 fifth sensor signal-   V1 first method step-   V2 second method step-   V3 third method step-   V4 fourth method step-   W heat transfer medium

1. A heating device, comprising: an outer housing that surrounds aninstallation space; a burner unit comprising a burner and a burnerhousing and being arranged on the outer housing and/or inside theinstallation space; a fuel valve being arranged on the outer housingand/or inside the installation space and being arranged in a fuel lineand being configured to influence supply of fuel via the fuel line intoa mixing area; a fan being arranged on the outer housing and/or insidethe installation space that is configured to create a flow of anoxidizing agent and/or a mixture of fuel and oxidizing agent into themixing area; at least one control device; and at least one gas sensorbeing arranged on an electrical and/or electronic component of theheating device (on the outer housing and/or inside installation spaceand being configured to create a sensor signal that describes anatmosphere surrounding the outer housing and/or present inside theinstallation space and being configured to provide the sensor signal tothe at least one control device that is configured to initiate ameasure, if it is determined based on the sensor signal that theatmosphere deviates from an allowable condition.
 2. The heating deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the electrical and/or electronic componentcomprises a support on which the at least one gas sensor is arranged. 3.The heating device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one gassensor is wirelessly connected with the electrical and/or electroniccomponent.
 4. The heating device according to claim 2, wherein theelectrical and/or electronic component is arranged inside theinstallation space.
 5. The heating device according to claim 1, whereinthe electrical and/or electronic component is part of the at least onecontrol device.
 6. The heating device according to claim 1, wherein theelectrical and/or electronic component is part of the fan.
 7. Theheating device according to claim 1, wherein the electrical and/orelectronic component is part of the fuel valve.
 8. The heating deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein further comprising a circulation pump,wherein the electrical and/or electronic component is part of thecirculation pump.
 9. The heating device according to claim 1, whereinthe fan comprises a main rotor for producing the flow of the oxidizingagent and a cooling rotor for producing a cooling flow for an electricaland/or electronic component of the fan.
 10. The heating device accordingto claim 9, wherein the at least one gas sensor of the provided gassensors is arranged in the cooling flow or the flow of the oxidizingagent.
 11. The heating device according to claim 10, wherein the atleast one gas sensor is arranged in the flow of the oxidizing agentproduced by the fan and the at least one control device is configured toevaluate a quality of the oxidizing agent.
 12. The heating deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the at least one control device isconfigured to switch on the fan or keep the fan switched on prior toand/or during measurement of the atmosphere by means of the at least onegas sensors, independent from whether the burner is in operation. 13.The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the at least onecontrol device is configured to output a warning message as a measure incase of an unallowed condition of the atmosphere.
 14. The heating deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the at least one control device isconfigured to operate the fan as measure in case of an unallowedcondition of the atmosphere in order to create a sucking flow ofatmosphere out of the installation space into an exhaust channel. 15.The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the fan comprises a fanhousing that surrounds a flow path through fan and that comprises atleast one housing part made of plastic.
 16. A method for operating aheating device, wherein the heating device comprises an outer housingsurrounding an installation space, a burner unit having a burner and aburner housing, a fan, a fuel valve, at least one control device and atleast one gas sensor that is arranged on an electrical and/or electroniccomponent of the heating device on the outer housing and/or inside theinstallation space, wherein the method comprises: creation of a sensorsignal by means of the at least one gas sensor that characterizes anatmosphere surrounding the outer housing and/or an atmosphere presentinside the installation space; providing the sensor signal (to the atleast one control device; and evaluating the sensor signal by means ofthe at least one control device and initiating a measure, if it isdetermined based on the sensor signal that the atmosphere deviates froman allowed condition.
 17. The heating device according to claim 3,wherein the electrical and/or electronic component is arranged insidethe installation space.
 18. The heating device according to claim 17,wherein the electrical and/or electronic component is part of the atleast one control device.
 19. The heating device according to claim 18,wherein the electrical and/or electronic component is part of the fan.20. The heating device according to claim 19, wherein the electricaland/or electronic component is part of the fuel valve.